Verifly American Airlines

Verifly American Airlines

 

Background

 

A number of apps are being tested because airlines have to collect data about travelers in order to comply with travel restrictions. These apps now number over 25 according to the last count.

For more information on a few of these, please see our feature Immunization passports - a guide listing all the options. We will continue to update this section as long as we have the strength.

British Airways is currently testing the IATA Pass. We have high hopes for this product, but we also test Verifly. Verifly's primary purpose is to collect some documents that you may need for your flight, and save you time.

If you have a negative Covid-19 result, you can upload it for the test to be reviewed to ensure it is acceptable before you get to the airport. It is a good idea to check the documents before you travel.

 

First impressions

 

The Verifly app was first used by me on a May 2021 return flight from Cancun, Mexico to attend the WTTC Global Summit.

It is easy to find the app in the App Store or Google Play Store. Once you have downloaded it, it is not difficult to create an account. You can upload a picture of yourself. However, it is up to you whether you feel comfortable doing this.

 

What does it mean?

Verifly is a digital checklist that helps you plan your flight from one place to the next.

You could have imagined an app like Covid that would allow you to check your travel plans before you set off. It might include a 'passport' or visa, or even a Yellow Fever form.

The list today is more complicated due to the new regulations to fly. However, the app simply lists what you need and encourages you to upload the documents.

Before we get into the details of how the app works, it is important to consider data security.

Verifly is used by airlines that are clear about the fact that they don't hold any data you upload and that they have no responsibility. Take BA's disclaimer to be typical ....

"The Verifly App operates independently of British Airways. You are directly submitting your data to Doan (acting in the role as the data controller). Please review Doan’s privacy policies and terms.

Only the US attestation information and associated metadata are collected by Doan (acting in data processor capacity) for British Airways. British Airways privacy policy.

Verifly will not have access to your booking information. British Airways' Terms & Conditions of Carriage will apply to your booking. This includes in relation to denied board for failing to meet country entry requirements." Verifly or the company that holds it is responsible for the data.

"Verifly" is a third-party app that allows you to plan your travels. It's provided by Doan.

Data security is something that we all are very conscious of. Some people will not wish to add more personal data into another app. This is something I cannot recommend. I'm not an IT specialist so I can't give any recommendations. Verifly (on privacy).

Privacy-centric design of Verifly ensures that the user's data are protected and used only for travel purposes. Verifly users have complete control over who, what, and when their data is shared. Our complete privacy policy." It can be found on the Doan website. They call it Identity.

 

How to use the app

 

It is easy and free to create an account. Everything else is difficult, unfortunately. First, the app is very basic. It asks you to scan the QR code for your negative Covid test. This can be done from any angle and for many minutes to an hour, according to my experience.

It is possible to return to it later and make another attempt. It can be done on 4G or Wi-Fi___33. You can also do it with your friends at a bar, restaurant, or on your own. But it won't work. At that point you might give up and go to the app store and leave a horrible review.

You would be correct. It is, as they call it, the U.I (User Interface I believe) and it is horrible.

You simply need to go to the menu, click on the 'dummy trip' link and choose from the list of options. These trips have names such as 'A Trip to Australia'. This is something you wouldn't do unless you are told to. In my case, I had the opportunity to ask British Airways about it and shared my knowledge with my colleagues.

In my case, I clicked on "Trip to the UK" and personalized the journey. These may look like dummy trips but they are actually templates. This should be stated clearly. Below are the screens I have copied.

After you've done that, enter your flight details and then upload any documents you need for your flight. These documents will vary depending on where you fly from. This review is a little more specific and may not be applicable to your particular journey. However, the end result could...

Mexico was the exception.

• Details and permissions to fly (we were locked down, so travel was not permitted)
• Negative Covid Test (within 72 Hours of Departure)
• Check-in details and seat number (within 24hrs of departure).

Because I had both of these, the first was simple. The second was more difficult.

Why? Why? For me, it was the UK.

Although a PCR test is the best, many hotels offer a rapid antigen test as an option. These are performed by nurses or qualified people and are therefore considered very reliable. These are preferred by the passenger because they don't require you to wait 24 hours and can be done quickly.

But there's one problem: will the rapid flow antibody test be accepted? According to the UK government website, these are the facts:

 

Type of test Providers

You will need to locate a test provider. It is important to ensure that the test provider meets the requirements for pre-departure testing.

Test must meet performance standards of >=97% specificity and >=80% sensitivity for viral loads exceeding 100,000 copies/ml.

This could be used to include tests like:

• A nucleic acid test that includes a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or other derivative technologies such as loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) tests
• An antigen test, such a test using a lateral flow device

You are responsible for ensuring that the test meets minimum standards of sensitivity, specificity, and viral load details. It is your responsibility to ensure that the test meets these standards.

If the test is not up to these standards, you may be denied travel. You are responsible for ensuring that the test meets these requirements."

Although it is possible to trust the antigen test in principle, it must be certified to be very accurate. The Verifly is a great idea because it allows you to check whether the test passes before you go to the airport.

But it doesn't.

 

Verdict

Verifly is a good option if you don't have time to wait for the negative test to be approved manually. The Android version is not yet stable and needs to be made more user-friendly. It is hoped that it will eventually be able to speed us through the airport. It is currently a work in process.

 

Verifly or the company that holds it is responsible for the data.

"Verifly" is a third-party app that allows you to plan your travels. It's provided by Doan.

Data security is something that we all are very conscious of. Some people will not wish to add more personal data into another app. This is something I cannot recommend. I'm not an IT specialist so I can't give any recommendations. Verifly (on privacy).

Privacy-centric design of Verifly ensures that the user's data are protected and used only for travel purposes. Verifly users have complete control over who, what, and when their data is shared. Our complete privacy policy."

It can be found on the Doan website. They call it Identity.

 

How to use the app

 

It is easy and free to create an account. Everything else is difficult, unfortunately. First, the app is very basic. It asks you to scan the QR code for your negative Covid test. This can be done from any angle and for several minutes to an hour, according to my experience.

It is possible to return to it and retry it later. It can be done on 4G or WiFi. You can also do it with your friends at a bar, restaurant, or on your own. But it won't work. At that point you might give up and go to the app store to give it a bad review.